Protective device



March 1, 1960 a. F. SALISBURY 2,927,146

PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed June 6, 1955 6609a F.5d lL'siz/ry.

5 0 KIM M, W, W 242 215 United States Patent PROTECTIVE DEVICE Thisinvention relates to an improved linemens protective device of the typeshown in M. B.'Salisbury US. Patent No. 1,485,994.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior applicationforProtective Device and Method of Manufacture, Serial No. 450,145, filedAugust 16, 1954.

A linemens protective device, as described in detail in the aforesaidpatent and prior application, is a tubular sleeve of resilientinsulating material. The sleeve has a longitudinal slit which permitsthe sleeve to be fitted over a conductor soas to give protection tolinemen working in the vicinity of the conductor. When the work iscompleted, tthe sleeve is easily removed for use elsewhere.

Protective devices of this character usually comprise a family ofcooperating protective devices. One member of the family is a shortsleeve of substantial diameter which fits over an insulator on across-arm, the two sleeve end portions projecting along and embracingthe conductors extending in opposite directions fromthe insulator.

Another member of the family is a sleeve of greater length adapted tocouple with one of the end of portions of the aforesaid short sleeve,the long sleeve enclosing the conductor which extends beyond the endportion of the short sleeve. The long sleeve, of course, providesextended, necessary protection for linemen working on the cross-arm.

The long sleeve protective device often is available in twotypes. Thefirst type is uniform in cross section throughout its length, and isadapted to couple with an end portion of the aforesaid short sleevewhich is of proper cross section to establish a connection.

The second type of long sleeve has uniform cross section throughout itslength except at one end. This end is of enlarged cross section whichisadapted to couple with the other end portion of the aforesaid shortsleeve. an enlarged cross section to accommodate the enlarged endportion of the long sleeve. The enlarged end portion of the long sleeveof the second type also is adapted to couple with either end of thefirst long sleeve type This other end portion of the short sleeve has ora smaller end of the second long sleeve type, thus to permit two longsleeves to be coupled together.

A fourth member of the protective device family is a short sleeveof'uniform cross section throughout its length which is adapted tocouple together adjacent ends of two long sleeves of the first type,i.e. sleeves of uniform cross section.

It will be seen from the foregoing that each member of this protectivedevice family is adapted to couple with another member-of the family orwith another device of the same kind. Aside from the insulatingfunction, the mostimportant characteristic of the respective devicesistheabi'lity that two coupled devices have to resist separation duringuse. Another important char- .one formof the invention.

. 2 ished and it is desired to remove the devices for use elsewhere.These two characteristics are somewhat conflicting in nature, as will beunderstood.

One object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a protectivedevice. which is so constructed that it will couple securely withanother protective device and which yet will separatewith case from suchother device.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a protective device of thischaracter which is extremely economical; to manufacture and which Willhave a long, useful life;

The invention, briefly described, comprises a series of serrations orother irregularities on the exterior surface of a protective devicewhich couples with another protective device by telescoping suchexterior surface with the interior surface fot the other device. Theserrations or irregularities comprise the same resilient material as theremainder of the protective device and hence they provide a grippingrelationship between the pair of coupled devices.

Other objects, advantages and details of the invention will be apparentas the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates It is to be understood that the descriptionand drawing are illustrative only and that the scope of the invention isto be measured by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 'is. an elevational view, partly in section of a short sleeveprotective device in coupled relationship with a pair of long sleeveprotective devices embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a long sleeve protective deviceembodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the protective device shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation of the protective device of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 5 in Fig. l

designates an insulator of the type commonly mounted A conductor 6 isshown associated with insulator 5, a conductor length 7 extending fromthe insulator in one direction and a conductor length 8 extending in theopposite direction. T

A short sleeve protective device 10 of the type previously mentioned ismounted on insulator 5. Device 10 substantially surrounds insulator 5and has end portions ,11 and 12 which surround conductor 6 in thevicinity of insulator 5.

The short sleeve protective device 10 forms the subject matter of myprior US. Patent No. 2,317,088, dated April 20, 1943.

The interior surfaces of the end portions 11 and 12 are providedrespectively withribs 15 and 16 as shown in Fig.1 and more fullydescribed in my aforesaid patent. The ribs are spaced apart, and the ribaxes are .arcuate, as shown. The concave sides of the ribs may beundercut, as more fully described in my prior patent,

to increase the gripping characteristic and to provide greater ease incoupling two devices together.

The cross sectionalsize of 'end portion ll is slightly larger than thecross sectional size of end portion 12 so that the device 10 is capableof receiving in coupled relationlong sleeve protective devices of bothtypes, namely the uniform cross section type and the type which has anenlargement at one end. The former typeis I designated 18 in Fig. 1 andthe latter type isdesignated 'acteristic is ease (if-separation when thework is fin- 19. Alsofend portion 11 is adapted to receive an endportion 12 of an adjacent similar device 10 so the'two devices can becoupled together when mounted on both cross arms of a pair. A I

Although the invention is applicable to either of the long sleeveprotective device types 18 or 19, as shown in Fig. 1, only the device 18is illustrated in the remaining figures of the-drawing and describedhereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, along sleeve protective device 18 of:uniform cross section is illustrated. Since the usual length of such adevice is from three to six the previously mentioned M. B. SalisburyPatent No.

One .or both end portions of device 18 is provided with pronounced:exterior irregularities such as serrations .22 which greatly improvethe ability of the device to resist separation under conditions of use.In preferred form, each serration 22 has a steeper end 23 (lower part ofFig. 3) "and an inclined end 24. The steeper end of the serrations facesaway from the sleeve end 2a, as shownzin Fig. 3.

Although some latitude is possible in locating the serrationscircumferentially of the end portion of a sleeve, it is preferred tolocate a series of serrations in quadrature relation with slit 20. Sinceslit 20 normally is located at the bottom of an installed protectivedevice, as shown in Fig. 4, serrations 22 are located on one or bothsides of the device. In the form illustrated, serrations are provided onboth sides, although worth while results are obtained by providingserrations'on one side only. i

Serrations 22, :may extend circumferentially substantially around thesleeve exterior and may 'be cut in the otherwise smooth exterior of thesleeve. However, in the form of 'the'invention illustrated, the sleeveis provided on both sides with a longitudinal rib which extendsthroughout the length of the sleeve. 'Since the sleeve is made by anextrusion process, it will be seen that the extrusion dies easily mayprovide for the laterallyextending ribs.

The ribs in the end portions of the sleeve are cut so as to contain theaforesaid serrations 22, thezsteeper end of a serration facing awayfrom'the adjacent sleeve end, as shown in Fig.3. 7

Along sleeve protective device 18 having the end portion serrations 22cooperates ideally with the short sleeve protective device shown inFig. 1. In the first place, the inclined ends 24 of the serrations aresuch that it is easy to establish the telescoped coupling relation. Theserrated end portion of device :18 slides smoothly'into the femaleendportion 12 of device 10. Some or all of the external serrations 22interfit with the internal ribs 16 of "end portion 12 and establish apositive connection between the 'two devices.

As shown in Fig. 1, the secure relation exists regardless of angulationbetween the axes of the two coupled devices. As a conductor may havemore or less slack, a secure connection between devices regardless ofcoupling angulation over a wide range is extremely essential.

Although the coupled connection is more than secure enough to resistseparation during use, the characteristics of the resilient material ofthe ribs and serrations are such that a sharp tug is all that isnecessary to provide easy separation when it is-desiredztoremovethedevices for use elsewhere.

From the above description it is thought that the .construction andadvantages of my invention will :be

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim .as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a first protective device comprising a generallytubular length of resilient insulating material having a continuouslongitudinal opening at the bottom thereof, said first protective devicein an end region thereof having spaced, curved ribs on the interiorsurface of both sides thereof, the convex sides of said ribs facing thebottom end corner of said end region, and a second protective devicetelescoping into said end region of said first protective device, saidsecond protective device comprising a generally tubular sleeve ofresilient insulating material, said sleeve having a longitudinal slittherein and a pair of oppositely disposed, longitudinal ribs ofresilient insulating material on the exterior thereof extendingthroughout the sleeve length, said ribs in quadrature relation with saidslit, each rib in an end region of the sleeve shaped to provideresilient serrations, the

steeper endofa serration facing:away from the adjacent sleeve end,whereby said serrations engage said interior ribs of said firstprotective device, the location, resilience and shape of said serrationsproviding a secure gripping,

yet readily separable, characteristicover a wide range of couplingangulation between the twodevices.

.2. .In combination, a first .protective device comprising a generallytubular length of resilient insulating .material having a continuouslongitudinal opening at the bottom thereof, said first protective devicein an 'end region thereof having spaced, curvedribs on the interiorsurface of at least one side thereof, the convex sides-of said ribsfacing the bottom end corner of said :end region, and .a-secondprotective device telescoping into said end region of said firstprotective device, said second protective device comprising a generallytubular sleeve of resilient insulating material, said sleeve having alongitudinal slit therein and at least one longitudinal rib of resilientinsulating material -.on the exterior thereof extending throughout thesleeve length, said rib in quadrature relation with said slit and havingresilient serrations in an end region of the sleeve, the steeper end ofa 'serration facing away from the adjacent sleeve end,

whereby said serrations engage said interior ribs of said first.protective device, the location, resilience andshape of said serrationsproviding a secure gripping, yet readily separable, characteristic overa wide range of coupling angulationbetweenthe two devices.

3. In combination, a first protective :device comprising a generallytubular length of resilient insulating material having a continuouslongitudinal openingat the bottom thereof, said firstprotectivedevice inan end region thereof having spaced, curved ribs on the interior surfaceof at least one side thereof, the convex sides of said ribs facing thebottom end corner of said end region, and a secondprotective devicetelescoping into said end region of said first protective device, .saidsecond protective device comprising a generally tubular sleeve ofresilient insulating material, said sleeve having a longitudinal slittherein and'at least one laterally located longitudinal rd) of resilientinsulating material on the exterior thereof throughout .its length, saidrib having resilient surface irregularities in an end region of thesleeve, wherebysaid irregularities engage said interior ribs of said.first protective device, the location, resilience and shape of saidirregularities providing a secure .gripping, yet readily separable,characteristic over a wide range of coupling angulation between the twodevices.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS $92,105White June 30, 1908 937,833 .Marek 'Oct. 26, .1909 1,867,430 Wisner.....July 12, 1932 2,317,088 tSalisbury .-Apr. .20, .1943 .2,'4il8,25.3Diehold .Sept. 24, .1946

